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Favreau Reverses Stance, Directs Mandalorian, Announces RDJ as Doctor Doom

4/24/2026

29 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Favreau Defends Stark

Director Jon Favreau called directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo on April 22 to object to Tony Stark’s death in Avengers: Endgame.
Favreau later told Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he was wrong, praised actress Gwyneth Paltrow and actor Robert Downey Jr., and will direct The Mandalorian and a Grogu film releasing May 22.
Tony Stark’s sacrifice sets up Avengers: Doomsday on Dec. 18, 2026, where Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom.

Summary

Marvel Announces

Marvel announced at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con that Kevin Feige pitched Doctor Doom to Robert Downey Jr.
Chris Evans returns as a young Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday, confirmed by the latest teaser trailer.
It unites Earth-616 heroes, Fantastic Four from Earth-838 and the X-Men, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Ian McKellen.
Secret Wars starts production this year and targets a December 2027 theatrical release.

History

Historical Context

Marvel began producing its own films in 2005, launching Iron Man in 2008 and building a shared universe that culminated with Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which Kevin Feige produced and which earned $2.798 b worldwide. The success of that crossover model led to Phase Six’s announced Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Secret Wars (2027), extending the MCU’s multiverse saga.

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Favreau Defends Stark

Director Jon Favreau called directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo on April 22 to object to Tony Stark’s death in Avengers: Endgame.
Favreau later told Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he was wrong, praised actress Gwyneth Paltrow and actor Robert Downey Jr., and will direct The Mandalorian and a Grogu film releasing May 22.
Tony Stark’s sacrifice sets up Avengers: Doomsday on Dec. 18, 2026, where Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom.

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